Past its use-by - would you eat it???

[nickle730]

Ok, so I was going to make spag bol for dinner, but I just pulled the beef mince out of the fridge and it was used by 23/8 (the day before yesterday). DH bought it on the weekend from the supermarket and it has been in the fridge since then. It looks and smells ok.

Can I still use it? Would you eat it?

[*Efjay*]

NA I couldn't do it.

[Epacris]

Yep, if it looks and smells ok and you're going to cook it, I would definitely use/eat it.

[AnyDream]

No I wouldn't. Mince has a fairly short shelf life because of the way it's prepared (potentially introducing a lot of bacteria). But there again I've had hospitalisationg-level food poisoning in the past and the memory of that means I take no chances at all.

[blessedatlast]

Yeah if it looks and smells ok I would. It'll be cooked well in spag bol.

ETA: Is it use by date or best before? If it's best before definitely. Use by, I probably would too, but trust your gut (and sense of sight and small )

[berrme]

I would.

[Cassius2]

yep. if it smelt AOK and looked AOK then i would

[nickle730]

OK, I have picked the green bits off the edges and put lots of fresh herbs in to cover the rotting smell... we should be good.

Who's coming to hold my hair back if this all goes bad??

(Seriously, it looks and smells fine...)

[blessedatlast]

Lol.. Umm, I would but seeing someone else spew would most likely make me spew too. Hopefully now you have removed the mould and covered the stench you'll be right

[Olive]

NO!!
i never ever ever ever use them past use by date, im paranoid

[Boo Boo]

Just use lots of garlic...should kill off any nasties!

[indie24]

Other meats maybe but never mince or chicken

[OceanPrincess]

I wouldn't do it either.

From frozen, maybe. Not fresh. Most of my meat goes straight in the freeze once bought as I don't like wasting things that hit there use by.

Its a "use by" date for a reason...

[Phteven]

There is usually a few days margin of error in the use by dates so it should be fine. The stuff pre-packed in the styrofoam lasts better than the stuff from the butcher because it is handled less.
That said I always just chuck mince straight in the freezer if I'm not using it that day because you can cook it from frozen if you need to.

[nickle730]

I have cooked it but not eaten it yet! It was a 'best before' rather than a 'use by' date. Does that make it better?? Have been simmering it away for the past 2 hours... surely that will kill any possible nasties?!! Hmm... a little nervous now!!!

[blessedatlast]

I reckon it's fine. Best before means just that. It's best before that date. Doesn't mean it's unsafe to eat after that date. Especially only 2 days.. I'm sticking with, if it smells ok and looks ok, it'll be fine.

[Jakabella]

You would know if it was dodgy as soon as you started cooking it..

[nickle730]

Tasted good...